The National tribune., 1887-02-24
Jos. w. KAY,
Winehester Post, lg7, G.. Ar.
ROANOKE ASSOCIATION.
of the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary OF tho
Engagement.

CeieDratOn OF the lWentY-tifth Anniversary or the
Engagement.
The Roanoke Association celebrated the 18th
anniversary of the Roanoke Island engage
ment by dinner at Young's Hotel recently.
At the business meeting the old board OF
officers was unanimously elected, as follows:
President, Gen. A. B. R. Sprague; V.-Pres., Capt.
j. A. OsgOOd Surg, j. A. EmmertOn; SCc'y,
Col. Edward III. HASKELL Treas, Capt. James
Thompson. Executive Committee: Chaplain
George s. Ball, 21st Mass; Capt. III. B. Pierce,
23d Mass; Col. C.. Fl. Hooper, oath Mass; Gen.
Josiah Pickett, 25th Mass; Capt z. A. Bailey,
9th Mass. Gen. Edward Harland, 8th Conn.
Gen. j. L. Otis, 10th Conn. Capt p. s. Chase,
4th r. l.; Gen. c. II. Barney, 9Th r. T. COL r.
C. Mitchell, 51st n. Y; Gen. J. F. Hartranft,
Charles A. Hickman, 9th n. j.. Capt F. NJ.
Josselyn, U. S. N. Capt. George f. Hollis U. 8.
N; Capt Fl. vi. Phelan, u. S. NJ; Capt. ID. W..
WardrOp, Marine Artillery.
After dinner Col Haskell said that he was
very glad to say a word of welcome Nowhere
else was the spirit of coIDradeship so strong as
with those who had served in the field. Roam
oke was a red-letter day for all of us, as well rs
for the country and to no event did he look
back with more pride than upon Roanoke.
Gen. j. L. Otis, of the 10th Conn.,, was then
introduced, and read a paper in answer TO that
which had recently appeared in THE NATIONAL.
TRIBUNE, written by Col. Hawkins, of the 51st
IL
space He said that Col Hawkins's paper was
a grossly unjust and exaggerated account The
part that his regiment took in the engagement
was OutrageOusly Overstated, and aroused the
indignation of officers and men, The speaker
referred to the fact that men on the Union
side were shot by their own comrades in a
panic during the engagement and said that, as
he saw several injured in this way, il would
require something more than w0Odcut to con-
vince him 70 the contrary. There was no as
sault, as none of the Union men fell, and no
prisoners were taken. He pointed out several
other misstatements in Col. Hawkius's article,
and then referred to the fact that Gen. Green
ough had declared this officers reports as per-
versions of the truth, inconsistent and false
statements.
Gen. George P. Hawkes.. of the 21st Mass,
said that he had read Col. Hawkins's letter in
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and for half an hour
after was the maddest of men. He said that
he hated to speak against any eOmrade, but
that such man as Col. Hawkins ought to DO
shown up.
Quartermaster w. T.. Welch. of the 23d
Mass, read extracts from letters written by
Confederate officers who participated i'm the
engagement. In one ex-GOv Jarvis, of North
Carolina, then Lieutenant in Co. b. Sth n c.,
said that the rebels did not expect the Yankees
would wade through the Swamps, as time and
again they had been assured that the swamp
aud marsh were impossible for man and beast,
and there was only one way of approach to the
Notifications. When the United States troops
passed to the left and right there was nothing
TO do but retreat and then surrender The
speaker said that there was here no mention
about being driven out by the Hawkins Zou-
ayes, and that Lieut.. Jarvis did not even see
him. In q letter from Captain in the same
regiment that officer said that the firing on the
right was so severe, and that his men fell so
fast, that he was compelled to retreat after
every other company had left The speaker
said that here again there was no inkling that
any one knew anything about Hawkins, or
ever heard of him. The Johnnies were lanked
on both Sides and if Hawkins had remained
on board of the vessel they would have got cut
| Just the same.
Interesting remarks fun of "reminiscences
were made by Capt George T. Hollis, of the
navy and others, and the association then
| adjourned.